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2 Sheets1-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) P. A. FOUTS.

SPINNING TOP.

[ L No. 267,867 Patented Nov. 21, 1882..

WITNESSES IWVEJVTOR 94%, M w v V I i I 2 A? M 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.) i I. A. FOUTS.

, SPINNING TOP.

No. 267,867. Patented Nov. 21, 1882.

LNTE-NTUR WITNESSES N i} I, \i l I N. PETERS. rhamLimo m hnr, Waahinglon. D4 (1 FRANK A. FOUTS,

OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SPINNING-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

267,867, dated Application filed October 20, 1882. (N 0 model.) i

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK A. FOUTS, a citiof the United States therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to childrens spinningtops.

It consists in providing the shank end or peg end ofa cone-shaped spinning-top with a hole, staple, or catch adapted to secure an end of the cord; also, in providing said top with a top and bottom spindle and a cag top, said cage being provided with securing the spindles, but which permit the top and spindles to revolve freely therein.

he ob ect of my invention the top, the hole, p

will more fully appear by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a top provided with a hole through the shank part of the spinning-cord being Fig. 2 is also a side elevain the shank of Fig. 4 is a side 7 View ofa top provided on its small end above the peg with a spring-strap. The upper end of thestrap is screwed or fixed to the body of and rests against the side of the peg. The center of the strap is bentoutward. The strap is adapted to of the cord by spinning out the said strap and sliding the cord Fig. 5is

loose end of thereunder. a front view of the top, showiuga face spring-strap with a fragment of the cord secured therein, also a perspective of Fig. 6 represents a top having a hole 111 its peg end, also a'cord prothe small end of the top being of less diameter than the shank. Said top inclosed Within a Wire frame or cage. The upper and the lower ends of the top are each provided with a spindle that fits into bowto the inner side of the frame,

bearings. A pear-shaped opening is made in the face of the frame,

upper side of d bow-shape.

the small end, the cord in this Wound upon the body of the top. top.

View being Fig. 9 rep- The lower small end, and the other portions thereof are wound upon the body of the top, theloose end being secured between the fingers by the but- VVhen the parts are thus united and the November 21, 1882,

receive and secure the lower end J is a crank fixed to the spindle J above the strap J. By means of the crank the cord may be wound upon the body'of the top in 70 the cage. An opening is made in the upper part of the top, which is spanned by the strap J, said strap being secured to the sides thereof. The crank is held below the periphery of the spherical cage, thereby protecting 7 said crank. The object of the top and cage is to effect their return to the hand when thrown downward on the cord (not permitting the cage to strike the floor) by first securing the lower end of the cord in hole B and winding 80 the cord on the cone from the small end upward, then securingthe cord between the fiugers by the button and throwing the cage downward, which action causes the device to pass to the end of the cord and return to the 8 5 hand of the operator by a single throw. The cord unwinds from the body on the downward passage and rewinds thereon in ascending. The cage is made of light material, whereby the rapid revolutions of the top therein and 90 on the cord may carry it upward to the hand when forcibly thrown outward.

On September 16,1882, I filed an application for patent in the United States Patent Office, which consists in providing the small end of a 95 cone-shaped spinning-top with a circumferen-.

tial groove and a circumferential flange; also,

in a spinning-cord provided on one end with a hook and on the other end with a recessed button adapted to slide on the cord. The top, 109 cord, and attachments therein set forth and claimed cooperate to effect the return of the top to the hand of the operator when the hook on the cord is secured in the circumferential groove of the top, the cord wound upon the 10 5 body of said top, the loose end of the cord secured between the fingers by the button, and the top thrown outward on the cord. The effect of the top and means specified in said application is similar to the efiect of the top, cord, 1 I c and connecting means herein shown and claimed-that is to say, the return of the top to the hand when thrown is similar in both cases. In said former application the top and cord therein shown are connected by means in 11 which the top may freely revolve when said top is thrown outward on the cord, as specified, the return of the top on the cord being efl'ected by the frictional contact between the cord and the circumferential grooves on the top. In the de- 1: vice herein specified and claimed the return feature is effected by providing the top with means adapted to engage and secure an end of the cord thereto, the connecting means firmly securing the top by its small end, whereby 1 every revolution of the top must either wind or unwind the cord from its body. Therefore by throwing'the top in the manner set forth it is forced to pass to the end of the'cord,its revoluble velocity increasing until it reaches the end of said cord, when the cord quickly re-en gages with the body of the top and it ascends to the hand of the operator, the top passing out on one side of the cord and returning on the other top forcibly thrown from the hand it will pass to the end of the cord and return to the hand of the operator by a single throw, (not permitting the top to strike the floor.) The cord 5 unwinds from the top on its outward passage and rewinds thereon in returning. When the top reaches the end of the cord it is of course spinning rapidly, which causes it to spin first. with its head downward, and then instantly 10 rise gyroscopically, whereby the cord is given a winding start on the lower end of the top, and the top forced by its rapid revolutions to ascend the cord and windthe same on its body in the ascent, whereby the operator is enabled 15 to catch it like a return-ball, Fig. 10 represents the top half-way out on the cord on its outward passage. The continuation in'dotted lines shows the top at the end of the cord. The top is presumedto be revolving rapidly, whereby it engages and ascends the cord, as shown in Fig. 11; and Fig. 12 represents a boy operating the top, showing the proper relative positions of his body, hand, and arm.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The letter A represents the body of the top, and B the hole through the small end thereof. B is a staple secured in the circumferential groove 0 of the top, or at a point near the 0 small end of said top.

B is a spring-strap fixed to the lower or small end of said top. It is adapted to en gage the knotted end of the cord when placed thereunder. The cord may be easily secured there 5 by or released therefrom.

D represents the peg of the top. E is the cord, having knotted ends, and provided with a recessed sliding button, F, Fig. 6. Y E is a hook on cord E. When the hook is not used a recessed button is not required; an ordinary button will suffice. A cord provided with a hook and sliding recessed button are no part of the invention presented herewith, inasmuch as they are made the subject of 5 claims in an application filed by me in the United States Patent Office on September 16, 1882.

Gr represents a cylindrical shank, provided on its lower end with a shoulder, G, and on its side with a spinning-strap, B (similar to, the strap shown in Figs. 4. and 5;) and B is a hole through said shank.

E, Fig. 8, represents a wire cage or frame provided with a pear-shaped opening, H. 5 5 I is a bow-strap, having acentral small opening adapted to receive and secure the spindle 1 on the small end of the top.

1 is a shoulder between the strap I and hole B. Said shoulder forms the abutment for the lower wrap of cord and prevents said cord from engaging and winding on the spindle 1'. Y

J is a bow-strap in the upper side of the cage, and J is a spindle on the upper part of the top, which passes through a small open-' ing in the bow J, and by means of which the upper part of the top 18 secured in the frame.

side thereof. The rapid revolutions of the top when it is at the end of the cord cause it to throw its head upward gyroscopically, in which position it re-engages the cord and ascends to the hand.

With this application and of even date herewith is filed a third application specifying and claiming certain improvements on my application of September 16, 1882.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A spinning-top having a body adapted to receive a cord by which it is spun, said top be ing provided on its small end with a hole or by a single throw, the cord be ing first wound and then rewound on the body of the top, the loose end ofthe cord remaining in the hand during the operation, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth. bly

2. A spinning-top having a body adapted to receive a cord by which it is spun, and a cord to spin the same, said top being provided on its small end with a hole or equivalent means and then rewound on the body of the top, the loose end of the cord remaining in the hand during the operation, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. Acone-shaped spinning top provided with means on its small end adapted to secure an end of the spinning cord and prevent the swivel thereof, in combination with a spinning-cord, whereby the cord may be wound upon the body of the top, the top thrown outto the hand of the operator by a single throw, the cord being first unwound and then rewoulid on the body, the loose end of the cord remaining in the hand during the operation, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

4. A cone-shaped spinning-top provided with a hole or equivalent means on. its small end for securing an end of the spinning-cord th and preventing the swivel thereof, in combina tion with a spinning-cord, whereby the cord may be wound upon the body ofthe top, the top thrown outward and returned to the hand ot the operator by a single throw, the cord beduring the operation,

0. spinning-top provided 6. body operator by a single the cord remaining in eration, substantially as set forth.

9. Acone-shaped top having a body adapted to receive a cord by which it is spun, and a cord to spin the same, said top being provided with top and A cone-shaped spinningtop having a adapted to recei'vea cord by which it is spun, and a cord to spin the same, said top being provided on its small end with means for on the top, the loose end of the cord remaining'inthe hand 7. A cone-shaped spinning-top having a body adapted to receive a cord by which it is spun, and a cord during the operation.

tom spindles, by means of which it is revolusecured in the case or cage, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

8. A cone-shaped body adapted to receive a cord by which it is spun, and a cord to spin thesame, said top being provided with top and spinning-top having a.

bottom spindles and means on its small end for connecting the cord thereto, cage adapted to receive the spindles, one of said spindles being provided with a crank, by

in combination with a case or throw, the loose end of the hand during the opwith bearings adapted to receive the spindles, one of the said spindles a crank, said case having a side opening adapted to receive the cord, whereby the cord being provided with.

upon the body of the topv and spinadapted to receive the of a spin ning cord, and of means for revsecuring the top in the case.

FRANK A. FOUTS.

end wit a cylindrical shank having cord se curing means thereon, in combination with a Witnesses: spinning-cord, substantially as described, and R. D. 0. SMITH,

for the purposes set forth.

Mosns FosKEY, Jr.

IIO 

